Sunshine Coast Lightning and Australian Diamonds star Steph Wood says netball deserves to be included in the Olympic Games, as she prepares for her club’s Super Netball finals campaign.
Netball Australia recently announced its intention to push for the sport’s inclusion at Brisbane 2032, and it has the backing of World Netball.
Wood, who was this week selected in the Diamonds 2021/2022 squad alongside team-mate Cara Koenen, was right behind the bid.
“I think it would be absolutely amazing to have it as an Olympic sport and I think it deserves to be an Olympic sport,” the 29-year-old said, before the Lightning’s crunch semi-final against Fever on Saturday.
“It would be great to have it (in Brisbane).
“We (the Lightning) were talking about who would be still playing then and I was asking myself ‘can I go another 11 years?’
“I don’t think I can, but I think it would be amazing to have it. I do hope that netball is there in 2032.”
The sport has more than 80 million participants and is played in more than 80 countries.
““We want our junior netballers to dream of Olympic glory in the sport they love,” Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said.
“We want our netball fans, who are the proudest and most passionate supporters, to cheer on their favourite athletes as they compete in the green and gold with the whole world watching on.
Meanwhile, Wood was looking forward to playing for the Diamonds, after earning selection in the national squad again.
She’s overcome a serious knee injury to forge her way back into the team.
“I’m super happy to be in the squad with some really exciting young talent coming through,” she said.
“Fingers crossed Cara and I can line up with each other in an Australian dress, that would be a really cool moment.”
The Lightning will press their claims for the Super Netball title, in a semi-final against West Coast at Brisbane on Saturday (3pm).
They finished the eight-team regular season in fourth place and will keep their amazing record intact, having been in finals since their inception in 2017, including winning premierships in 2017 and 2018.
Wood has an ankle injury but she’s intent on playing in their crucial game against Fever.
“It probably looks a bit worse than it is,” she said.
“We’re just trying to speed up the healing process. I’m definitely on track to play this weekend and it will be very hard to keep me off court.
“I’ll do anything (to play).
“It’s finals. It’s do-or-die for us, so I’m not missing it.”
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Koenen also looked forward to the challenge.
“The Fever started the season strong but ourselves and a few other teams have shown they are beatable and there are areas we can expose them,” she said.
“Last time we played them our defence did an incredible job on Jhaniele (Fowler) and that came from the work done out front through Maddy (McAuliffe) and Mahalia (Cassidy).
“It will be a tight battle as finals are.”
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The finals also feature minor premiers Giants and also New South Wales Swifts.
“We all start from scratch in finals and it’s anyone’s game,” Koenen said.
“We’ve all taken wins off each other so we’ve got to make sure we rock up on the day and keep the ball and when we have it we need to punish them on the scoreboard.”
Meanwhile, Lightning team-mate Mahalia Cassidy was named in the Australian development squad.
How to watch Lightning’s minor semi-final
- West Coast Fever v Sunshine Coast Lightning, Nissan Arena, Brisbane, 3pm Saturday.
- Tickets on sale through Ticketek.(Crowd capacity at 50%).
- Broadcast on the Nine Network and via the Netball Live app.
